interviews
Get the most from your questions
During an investigative interview it’s important to plan and prepare your strategy prior to the interview.
Part of the preparation process is also mapping out some of the questions that you’ll want to ask during the interview process. When strategizing the interview, take the time to determine what information would be valuable to your investigation and the best way to obtain this information.
Too-often when planning and mapping out relevant questions, the questions are focused on specific bits of information; they are closed ended questions that may even reflect biases you possess.
Think about changing your game plan and get into a habit of asking more open-ended questions. Often, you will find that the one open-ended question you ask will provide insight into several questions you’ve prepared ahead of time.
The open-ended question provides subject autonomy and the ability to share details without specific prompts, helping to understand the accuracy of the information obtained. Additionally, the use of an open-ended question will transfer the cognitive load from you when you ask rapid-fire questions to your subject.
